6 Factors That Can Influence Your Writing

Have you ever considered how the environment you write in can affect the tone of your stories? Well pull up a chair and get comfortable! Young Writers Program participant Sarah R. is here to share how we can use our environments to suit our writing needs.

Environments can greatly influence how you write. They can determine if you write poetry or a mystery novel. Or if your writing is romantic and heartfelt or thrilling and spooky. Here’s a list of a few environmental factors that may give you ideas or help you dive into your writing:

1. Your Home

First off, the home you were (or are currently being) raised in can influence how you write. You may have been raised in a family that has traveled around the world since you were a baby, or maybe you’ve lived in the same house your entire life. Either way, it affects the way you write.

I lived in Costa Rica for 11-12 months of my life. I remember it. I remember missing my friends and family, but I also remember how exciting and nerve-racking it was to move. Just like if you lived in the same house you may remember how boring or how peaceful it was. You can work all of these feelings
into your story.

2. Your Online Communities

Online environments can influence your writing too. Let’s use NaNoWriMo as an example. When you’re on NaNoWriMo you may feel more inspired to write since you’re around other writers. You can find the inspiration you needed to continue writing, which could affect what your entire story is about.

Maybe while you were online you found an idea to implement into your story. When you add that it makes the story different from what it would have been if you’d never found the idea. What we see, hear, and talk about online can influence what we write and how we write it.

3. Your Writing Space

Even where we write can influence our writing. Maybe sitting at your desk with open windows and a slight breeze helps you write. Maybe sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor helps you write (although I wouldn’t recommend doing this as you may get in the way). Making your writing space comfortable to write in is key. If you’re uncomfortable, it could decrease your desire to write. So, make your space comfortable and inviting.

4. Your Friends and Family

Friends, family, and online communities can help you when you run out of inspiration. All you have to do is ask someone and they can give you some sort of inspiration—even if it’s not straight forward or obvious. Some inspiration just comes for situations that you’re in. So, examine what situation you’re in an
implement that into your story, whether you’re in quarantine or you’re on vacation.

5. The Music You Listen To

The music you play (if any) can influence how you write. If you play slow melodies it can help you write calm or romantic scenes. If you play hip-hop or action music it can help you write fight, action, and/or argument scenes. If you don’t play any music, sounds of birds chirping, trees rustling, and crashing
waves can help give you inspiration and help you write scenes.

6. The People Around You

The sounds and sights around you can influence what you write, but who you’re around can influence your writing too. If you’re around people that are always excited, even about the little things, and are always happy, your writing may give off a cheerful and energetic vibe. If you’re around people that aren’t
always happy and are struggling, your writing may give off more of a sad and lost vibe. You can utilize the feelings that people around you have and the feelings you have to make your story more realistic.

In the end, make sure you utilize the space you write in well. If you like to listen to music, consider the scene(s) you’re going to be writing and pick music keeping the scene(s) in mind. Find somewhere comfortable to sit, whether that’s your bed, a giant beanbag, or your desk chair. Just make sure you’re comfortable and happy with your writing space.

Sarah R. is a writer and blogger from Missouri. In her free time, you can find her writing, reading, scrolling through Pinterest, or laughing her head off at something that really wasn’t that funny. She enjoys writing fantasy and romance the most and she is working on a couple of writing projects right now. She hopes to publish a novel someday. Aside from reading and writing, you can occasionally find her taking photos, making videos, or baking.

Top photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash